Holding up the boat ramp!

[CATransplant]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

"I don't care what kind of fight I start anymore, if anyone's in my way for more than a few minutes they'll be very clear about what I think of them.<br />"<br />============================================<br /><br />Oh, that'll help a lot. Normally, I can launch in about 5 minutes, when I'm boating solo. If possible, I'll pull the boat around to the off side of the courtesy dock (assuming there is one). On one lake where I boat, however, it's too shallow to do this, so you'll have to wait a minute while I park the tow vehicle and trailer and get back to the boat.<br /><br />Honking your horn will not speed things up. Not one bit. I'll go as fast as I can, anyhow.<br /><br />Now, what might help is a little help. A guy could do that, especially when I'm trying to get the boat back on the trailer in a strong cross-wind. I'll get it done, but it sometimes takes a couple of passes. Your horn won't do anything about the wind.<br /><br />I'm an old geezer, but I'm moving as fast as I can to get my boat in and out of the water. I guarantee you that it will start and that I will be able to back it in straight.<br /><br />I also guarantee that on that day when you forgot the oil that you can have the spare quart I always have in the tow vehicle. Just ask nicely and I'll be glad to help. I've also got a spare wheel and tire, a spare hub with bearings all packed and a really good floor jack, just in case you need to use them. I've got long jumper cables and will help you if you forgot to charge your battery.<br /><br />That's all if you don't honk at me for taking 7 minutes instead of 5 some days. Honk at me, and forget it.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I hope I don't come across like some flippin' "let's give everyone a big, fat hug" type of wacko, but I'll share a little trick of mine. Instead of getting all torked and ripping the head off a brainless dolt (even though I want to), I ask (nicely) if they would like some help. If said person has the abilty for a single rational thought in their empty skull they quickly realize they may be taking a bit too long at the ramp.<br /><br />My offer of assistance has yet to be accepted, but it has gotten them to pull their head out of thier @ss and move a bit quicker.<br /><br />Try a little kindness I say. If that doesn't work, rip their arms off and beat them senseless wtih the bloody stumps. Time now for some herbal tea.

 

[monoshock]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

quote from Rodney King "Can we all get along?"<br />

 

[gspig]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I take time to load and unload as I do it solo. I have no problem with people being slow as long as they are launching or retrieving. The ones that blow my mind are the ones that get the rig on the ramp then pull coolers out of the truck, dig for lifevests, decide to prep the boat there. I have also witnessed the "it ran when I took it out of the water last year" people. I wonder if they have a clue that a pair of muffs and a water hose would enable them to start the boat out of the water.

 

[Floating Carter]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I wanna boat wherever CATransplant does...could come in real handy<br /> I always offer to help- everyone was new once and everyone has trouble now and then, I only have a problem with those who couldn't care less how they effect others<br /><br />Lisa

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Maybe all the helpful boaters should all go to the same lake. Let all the jerks go to some other lake and yell and honk at each other. Now, that would make for a nice day on the water.<br /><br />Seriously, though, it's about time we all realized that none of us are the most important person on the planet. Yes, some people are stupid and don't have their act together when it comes to launching and retrieving. No question about it. But...they'll get their boat launched or retrieved eventually, and then we can launch ours. <br /><br />Offering to lend a hand can speed things up, sometimes. Honking and yelling rarely speeds things up though. It just further flusters the person having a problem or makes the jerk get even more obstinate about taking his time. It never helps at all.<br /><br />Me...I've solved all that. I boat during the week, on a lake that's rarely busy during the week. I go early and leave at a time when most people are still on the lake.<br /><br />I do that because it's good for my blood pressure and keeps the peace. Yes, I get annoyed at stupid people, too, but then I try to remember when I was first starting out in boating and some of the stupid mistakes I made. I'll probably make some more stupid mistakes from time to time, so I hope others will be patient when I do. In exchange, I'll try to be patient when others make stupid mistakes.<br /><br />Works for me. Oh, yeah. I also have a full six gallon jerry can of pre-mix in my tow vehicle. If you forgot to gas up, just ask, and I'll be happy to share it with you. It's mixed at 24:1, since I have an old outboard, but that won't harm your motor. I've got a full set of tools in the truck, too. What the heck...

 

[agitator]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Might be a good idea to make sure that who you verbally trash or threaten to rip apart isn't some old dude with little to lose and who doesn't suffer rude fools lightly . With most states issuing concealed weapons permits age, sex, and weakness become irrelevent when said object of scorn gets fed up and pulls out what he has been sitting on and cuts loose. You can just bet he/she knows how to use it too. Risk your life for a boat ramp argument or tirade? How foolish can you get?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

was it Hank Jr. who said "why can't we all just get a longneck?"

 

[monoshock]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I don't drink, but sounds like a better idea than getting steamed at the boat ramp .<br />That is a Hank JR. song.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Agitator,<br /><br />Well, a lot of folks who claim they're going to do something are all hat and no cattle, I've found. <br /><br />It's easy to talk big on an online forum and claim that you're a tough guy. It's a different story out there in the real world.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Yup, it just happened to me this weekend--'cept it was me (sort of) holding up the ramp. I went with some friends to show them the ropes on launching their "new to them" 1972 pristine Bayliner with an I-6 Volvo. My loverly bride and I first demonstrated a launch with my boat. They followed but we could not lower the outdrive and engine would not start. We finally gave up and pulled the boat out.<br /><br />It is amazing how far a smile and an offer of assistance can go. I helped people maneuver around us and chatted about this being a first time launch. There was not even a snide look even though it was crowded and hot, hot, hot.<br /><br />And the starting issue...turns out there is a bracket on this vintage Volvo outdrive for trailering that has to be manually removed. Who knew?

 

[KRS]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Originally posted by agitator:<br /> Might be a good idea to make sure that who you verbally trash or threaten to rip apart isn't some old dude with little to lose and who doesn't suffer rude fools lightly . With most states issuing concealed weapons permits age, sex, and weakness become irrelevent when said object of scorn gets fed up and pulls out what he has been sitting on and cuts loose. You can just bet he/she knows how to use it too. Risk your life for a boat ramp argument or tirade? How foolish can you get?

In Arizona, we'd just shoot back. Thanks for bringing weapons into this otherwise (mostly) intelligent discussion.

 

[KRS]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

As far as I can tell, agitator picked on:<br /><br />old people<br />dudes<br />gun owners<br />states with concealed weapons laws<br />both sexes<br />people with weaknesses<br />people who "cut loose"<br />and foolish people<br /><br />Lots of classes of people to be angry at this one.

 

[Tiger123245]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Well, if you live in Iowa and see a woman alone with a pontoon taking a little longer at the ramp.... that'll be me. A new person with a boat. Please don't honk or swear at me, you'll just make me more nervous than I already am. Yes, I prep the boat, take off the straps, put the plugs in, all my gear before I even get to the ramp. I can back it down straight (most of the time and I am getting better at it). Doing it solo takes a little longer, especially when you're trying to line up a big 'ole pontoon on that trailer with a wind coming. I just appreciate the friendly people I've met at the ramps when they see I'm having trouble lining up and helping me out. And I ALWAYS give a big smile when they offer to help and say thank you!!!!! And once the boat is winched up.... off I go and take care of the rest of the stuff away from the ramp!

 

[Tiger123245]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

By the way... since I KNOW it's gonna take me longer... if I see a bunch of people waiting to launch or load their boats, I'll back off and wait until the ramp is empty, 'cause I don't want to hold people up. That way, nobody gets pissed at me. It takes practice to get something done right and I realize that's what I need, and where do you get practice at? The boat ramp...

 

[djzyla1980]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I guess maybe I'm used to backing things up... the 25' camper to the 16' boat. Last weekend went out and we got prepped to launch (yes off the ramp) but while prepping noticed this damn boat trying to load up I thought... Well he got in front of me on the ramp (single) and was takin a hell of a time tryin to do whatever he was with his shiny new boat (trailer had in transits) I finally got fed up and walked up and asked if there was anything I could do to help. He said he was loadin up to go and didn't get it on the trailer right. That I understood (very well could have been first time out) But I at least asked if he needed help. I probably would have jumped in the lake if it meant movin him a bit faster.<br /><br />If theres someone at the launch takin some time I'll usually ask them if they need some help in a kind way. Usually it works.... or they really need help and are waiting for someone to offer.<br /><br />I feel bad going with the kids (5yrs & 3 yrs) and takin up the courtesy side of the dock when I pull out. But I can still get it unloaded and away from the dock in about 10 minutes.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

I went out today to create some new stupid human tricks while performing "sea trials" on the canoe in two. I putted around the cove a few times trying out diff motors and such then tied back up to my trailor parked on the beach away from the ramp. I decided to hang out since the weather was nice and hope for someone else to excercise some sht's for my entertainment. I watched 4 people with an older fishing boat take about 20 minutes to unload a boat because they didnt want to get their shoes wet. No big deal... noone was waiting to load or unload. Then they proceeded to pull their boat up on the ramp and set a heavy rock on the bow line so it wouldn't float away... sht right there... they then took about 20 more minutes to back their vehicle and trailer down on the beach beside everyone who had launched from the beach. took their time loading stuff into the boat... probably took them 40 minutes before they decided to move their boat. Saw one pissed off fisherman back down within inches of their boat then screamed at them when the back of their boat drifted into his trailer... I just chuckled and gave him an approving nod.

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

In Cape Canaveral Florida, there is actually a bar overlooking one of the cities launching ramps. The Bar is called "Boat Ramp Follies." and you would not believe what tou will see. Things are even funnier while holding a cold-one!

 

[Barbee Q]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Originally posted by Nos4r2:<br /> common sense aint common though... <br /><br />Over here I've said something to them before.Not rude, just pointed out that there's an area to load up in and show them where and explained "ramp etiquette". Most simply don't know.<br />Over there-I'd do the same-as long as they were sober and didn't look likely to pull a gun...

 

[Barbee Q]

Re: Holding up the boat ramp!

Originally posted by Nos4r2:<br /> common sense aint common though... <br /><br />Over here I've said something to them before.Not rude, just pointed out that there's an area to load up in and show them where and explained "ramp etiquette". Most simply don't know.<br />Over there-I'd do the same-as long as they were sober and didn't look likely to pull a gun...